Juventus v Fiorentina Coppa Italia Preview

Juventus V Fiorentina

Juventus

Juventus will have to put Monday night’s disappointing draw behind them as they head into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against a Fiorentina side undefeated in their last 12 matches.

The Bianconeri had all but ended Roma’s title-challenge after going ahead through Carlos Tevez but the Giallorossi fought back to net a late equaliser and earn a vital point. Both Juve players and the management were quite vocal in agreeing that they should have won the game while coach Max Allegri warned they can’t ‘switch-off’ against Fiorentina as they did against Roma.

“Fiorentina are a team that handle the ball quite well, thanks to the skills of their players and the mentality instilled in them by Montella.” Allegri told reporters in his pre-match press conference earlier today.

“For our own part we’re a group that can command our games, so we’ll see who has the strength to dominate tomorrow.

“But that’s not essential to win a match. Often you can win with the least possession or lose with the most.

“What matters is that you read the game correctly. You must interpret the clash correctly from the word go.

“[Paul] Pogba and [Stefano] Sturaro are both doing well. Pogba already came to Rome but I didn’t want to risk him, so he’s certainly going to be in this match. Sturaro’s doing better and will be on the bench.”

After switching from 4-3-1-2 to the tried and trusted 3-5-2 against Roma, Allegri may make yet another formation change. Sky Sport Italia suggest Juve will lineup 4-3-3, similar to the formation used against Parma in the quarter finals last month.

Marco Storari could start in goal with Martin Caceres reverting to right-back and Simone Padoin coming in for Patrice Evra at left-back. Andrea Barzagli has recovered from his injury woes and might make his first start of the season alongside Angelo Ogbonna.

Andrea Pirlo will be out for at least another 3 weeks leaving Claudio Marchisio the clear choice to replace him at the base of midfield with Paul Pogba confirmed to start as well. Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra were both exceptional against Roma, albeit for different reasons, so it could be a toss-up between the two for the final midfield spot. Up front, Fernando Llorente will spearhead the attack while Kinglsey Coman and Simone Pepe on either flank to offer some width in attack.

Predicted Lineup

Injured

Asamoah and Romulo (Recovering from surgery), Andrea Pirlo (ankle)

Suspended

None

Fiorentina

Fiorentina are in a very good moment: they haven’t lost a match since January 6, they have won seven of their last eleven games, they have cut down the gap from Napoli’s Champions League-qualifying third place to just three points and they have knocked Tottenham out in Europa League. But, most importantly, it feels like that the whole squad is clicking and the vibe around them is excellent.

The midseason acquisitions have added quality and depth, especially up front: Mohamed Salah (three goals in four matches) has those Cuadrado-esque pace and unpredictability and is a good scorer, Alessandro Diamanti hasn’t lost his trademark playmaking ability in his hiatus in China and Alberto Gilardino is a valuable replacement in a department that has often been injury ridden.

The lineup is pretty much up in the air and we’ll have to wait for the squad list to see who’s available and who’s not. In this particular match, the problems lie in the defense for La Viola. Gonzalo Rodriguez is the only healthy centre-back available: Josè Maria Basanta, who has a minor thigh muscular injuries, will probably be forced to play through pain, or the coach will have to come up with a creative solution to field a respectable defensive line, maybe fielding the fullbacks Micah Richards and Marcos Alonso as centre-backs.

After the January window, Montella has used 4-3-3 more often than his usual 3-5-2, basically because Salah and Diamanti have been indispensable. However, there’s a chance to see a three-man defense on Thursday, considering the injuries, just to have one more body in front of Norberto Neto (what a weird game it will be for him…). They intended to rest the Egyptian winger against Inter, but he had to be subbed in because Khouma Babacar got hurt (he won’t be available for at least a couple of weeks). They are eking out Mario Gomez’s appearances as of late, turning him in a sort of Cup specialist, and he has bitten Juventus before.

In the midfield, Mati Fernandez, Borja Valero and Alberto Aquilani are all banged up. Milan Badelj has started to perform well recently and he’ll fill in for the injured David Pizarro. Jasmin Kurtic is the backup option if the others aren’t healthy enough. As far as the attack is concerned, Montella will likely go with his best trio Salah-Gomez-Diamanti, but a little bit of rotation is always possible is a cup game and Joaquin or Josip Ilicic could crack into the starting lineup.

So far in this season, they have been an excellent road team: they have collected 24 points in 13 matches (record 7W 3D 3L) and they trail only to Juventus in this category. They have a very good defense, as they have conceded 24 goals, third in the League behind Allegri’s side and Roma (but they’ll have some absences…).

Since Montella took over, they have always played a very European brand of football, with a lot of proactive possession, off-the-ball movement, trying to control the game and having territory dominance. If you mix that with very skilled players, you obtain a remarkable result, even though Fiorentina haven’t always been able to fulfill its potential and looked inexplicably flat in some games. However, they have caught fire in the last few matches and Juventus will have to be extremely careful in this first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals.

As an Egyptian, seeing my country’s hero score twice against Juventus has been unbelievable.

LMJuveDK

he is a gifted player.

Peter

Man, I still remember Gera scoring two on that 4-1 Fulham game in a good way.

BelgianJuventino

Tuning in to see 1-2, feeling like it’s time to go to bed xD I’ll suffer through these30mins I guess

B1anconer0

Are we gonna lose at home??

Papilaya(John)™★★★

Looks it

Papilaya(John)™★★★

I shouldve just gone home when i saw Padoin as the lone last man vs Salah on his first goal. Surely when you have Padoin as the lone last man defending against a pacey player, you cant believe the team is taking the match too seriously.

JuventusBuffon

Are there 2 legs to this game?

Papilaya(John)™★★★

I believe so

DutchJuve

Yes.

BelgianJuventino

Great one more game of this embarassing football

Papilaya(John)™★★★

We shouldnt be allowed to be in coppa anymore. Disgraceful and disrespectful to the fans.

Peter

Viewers give money man, they won’t ban Juve from the Coppa just because they don’t take it seriously.

Papilaya(John)™★★★

I know they wont.

30Scudetti

Vidal has been poor all year. If I’m Moratta i’m selling Vidal and not Pogba this summer.. use that money for Cavani. Or someone who can cross the ball.. and Padoin is still terrible.

Peter

Who would you replace Vidal with?

Papilaya(John)™★★★

Me jkjkjk

30Scudetti

i would just let pereyra play next year, then that following season i sell pogba to PSG for money and Verratti

Papilaya(John)™★★★

Id try to get Kroos if we sell Vidal

30Scudetti

yeah i mean i’d love to have another star midfielder but its concerning that Tevez is our only consistent offense and Real has that buy-back clause on Morata thats hanging over our heads. Id rather be lining us Cavani rather than a midfielder.

Papilaya(John)™★★★

We have Berardi and Zaza on their way.

30Scudetti

this team is going far in Europe… we are taking a step backwards to think inexperienced players from a tiny club are ready for champions league games.

Peter

I don’t like Pereyra enough to want to see that. I’d rather keep Vidal and Pogba too, we don’t exactly need to players from our first squad.

30Scudetti

he hasn’t been right with the injuries since before world cup… he’s missing PK’s this year and his first touch is off. I’d rather sell high before he puts together back to back poor seasons and we are left sitting with no value for him.

Peter

In 14/15 he missed 4 games because of injuries. That’s not too bad, Pirlo misses more.
He’ll come around.

30Scudetti

even if he missed zero games. can you honestly say he’s the same player? in business you sell when something is at its peak, not when its showing signs of wear and tear.. thats how you get the most value anyway. Man U was ready to shell out 30-40mill this past summer. wouldn’t you have taken that now looking back?

Peter

He does play worse this year than last, but no club wanted him after the WC because he injured. It was a gamble to wait with the possible sell after the WC.

I wouldn’t have taken the money because our reserve squad is shit. 30-40 mil wouldnt fix Matri and co.

LMJuveDK

Padoin makes his team mates look brilliant because he is so awful. Its like going to the club with your ugly friend.

JuventusBuffon

WHY ARE WE PLAYING LIKE A SUNDAY LEAGUE TEAM???!!!!????

BelgianJuventino

Fiorentina hasn’t done anything in thses 30 mins and Juve got to dictate the game with just zero chances, what a bad game this is. now there is one good chance and it was one for Fiorentina..

Peter

They even subbed off their only player who caused real problems. I don’t know why can’t we make any shots on goal…

BelgianJuventino

No clue either

Papilaya(John)™★★★

The seed does not bloom if the roots from within do not bother breaking through the barriers of itself :p

BelgianJuventino

What does it take these guys to actually shoot? Trying to dribble past 7 players solo doesn’t work unless you’re messi in a good day. Fucking shoot already

BelgianJuventino

Well this was awful to watch, let’s hope a defeat will shake the team up and make them play like bosses in the return games against Dortmund and Fiorentina.

If I want this level of football I’ll go kick a ball myself

Papilaya(John)™★★★

On the brigjt side, i thought of something incredibly poetic that is instagram worthy :p

Papilaya(John)™★★★

YUCK

B1anconer0

Bad overall performance, what a poor game by vidal and even worse by marchisio..
Even if it’s coppa, it hurts to watch Juve lose..

B1anconer0

Hope they can pick theirselves up by the time they play dortmund because otherwise things will go bad.

JuventusBuffon

Play like that against Dortmund and the match will end 7-0

Papilaya(John)™★★★

Im sure they wont play like that against dortmund

JuventusBuffon

Just saying man, if this doesn’t serve as a wake up call for our players I don’t know what will.

adp1974

do you honestly think that Juve is amped for a game like this as they would be for Dortmund? You’re talking about a Coppa Italia match using 2nd stringers and comparing it to how they might play in the biggest match of their season … Chill bro. It’s a Coppa Italia match. I could care less if they lose their next 3 Serie A games, they just beter get through Dortmund in a couple of weeks.

BelgianJuventino

This is all true but whatever the game/league, this was just such a bad game. A Serie B team would have put up more of a fight than Juve did. Why bother going far in the Coppa if you don’t care about it anyway, field an entire Primavera squad instead then and see how far they get.

They better play their hearts out against Dortmund

JuventusBuffon

That’s not my point, we haven’t been playing well for the past month, us losing a match was inevitable, our luck had to eventually run out. What I’m saying is we need to pick up our form again or we will crash out of the UCL.

DutchJuve

Last season when we lost our first match we came back better than ever.